Whether or not you are dieting, certain foods are considered unhealthy and should be avoided. To lose weight, rather than skipping meals or consuming weight loss shakes, you can eat a healthy diet that eliminates foods that contain excess calories, sugar and fat. Consuming these foods will not only contribute to weight gain but also can adversely affect your overall health.
Processed Meats
Processed meats include sausage, hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, lunch meat and other products that are smoked, cured or salted. Preservatives found in processed meats disrupt the normal digestive process of your body. Additionally, processed meats are high in fat, sodium and cholesterol. Eating processed meats with these basic ingredients will make your waistline grow and increase your risk of hypertension, heart disease and cancer.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are high in trans fat, or partially hydrogenated oil. These artificial fats are created from hydrogen ions that react with oil. While trans fat prolong shelf life, it should be avoided when dieting. Fried foods such as potato chips, french fries and donuts are not only rich in trans fat but also saturated fat and sodium. These compounds are broken down into cholesterol and glucose, which ultimately are stored in the liver. The bad fats found in fried foods cause increased cholesterol levels, uncontrolled blood sugar, heart disease and excess weight gain.
Regular Soda
Although soda typically is low in fat, it contains a surplus of sugar. A 12 oz. regular cola contains approximately 7 tsp. of sugar and 140 calories. Soft drinks also contain high amounts of fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and caffeine. They provide no nutritional value and can lead to excess weight gain. Drinking soda also can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and tooth decay.
Diary
You might want to avoid or limit dairy products, especially those made from whole milk. Dairy products include milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, cream and eggs. When choosing yogurt, avoid those loaded with fat and sugar. Choose plain, low-fat yogurt without added ingredients, and avoid processed cheese as it is high in saturated fat, total fat, sodium and cholesterol. Avoid processed cheese processed and opt for the real thing in moderation.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages contain empty calories and no nutrients, so should be avoided.
Refined Grains
Avoid refined grains such as white pasta, rice, bread, crackers and some breakfast cereals. Refined grains are stripped of their nutrients during processing and add unnecessary calories and sugar to your diet. Choose whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, barley and oatmeal. These grains will help you feel full for longer.
Fruit Juice
Avoid most fruit juices and fruit drinks. Fruit-flavored punch, sweetened tea and even 100 percent fruit juices are high in sugar and calories. A 1 cup serving of fruit juice contains up to 10 tsp. of sugar. While it might contain vitamins and minerals, fruit juice does not provide any dietary fiber. Choose fresh fruit whenever possible.
Some Soup
Canned and instant soups are loaded with salt. Event the low-sodium varieties contain large amounts of salt. Processed soups also are high in trans fats and artificial preservatives. To slim your waistline, make your own, low-sodium soup from ingredients you have at home.
Snack Foods
Following a diet does not mean that you have to avoid snacking. Snacking throughout the day keeps your metabolism running and prevents you from overeating at meals. It is important, however, to snack on the right kinds. Avoid junk food such as cakes, cookies, muffins, chips, crackers and snack mixes. To avoid these excess calories, choose fruits and vegetables for snacking.
Condiments
Condiments commonly are overlooked when trying to lose weight. Salad dressings, mayonnaise, cream, oil and various sauces add extra calories, fat and sugar to any meal. Be wary of products labeled low-fat or reduced-fat, which might have added sugar or salt for flavor.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Kitchen Land Mines -- 10 Foods to Avoid; Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.; July 15, 2010
- CommonSenseHealth.com: Unhealthy Foods to Avoid and Foods NOT to Eat
- AFitnessMinute.com: The Top Ten Foods You Should Never Eat; Pat Anderson
- HealthCave.com; 10 Foods to Avoid While Dieting; Uttoransen; May 14, 2010
- Health and Happiness with Shirelee: Seven Unhealthy Foods to Avoid Eating
Member Comments